Public tours of the Library of Congress are offered Monday through Friday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m; and, on Saturday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. All Library of Congress buildings are closed on Sundays; all Reading Rooms, as well as the Adams and Madison buildings are closed to the public on all Federal Holidays. Hours for visitors to the Great Hall and exhibitions vary (view general building hours).
Note to researchers: Please be sure to check the hours of the specific reading room or center you plan to visit.
Building Abbreviations and Codes:
LA = Adams Building | LJ = Jefferson Building | LM = Madison Building | § By appointment only
Reading Room / Reference Center | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
African & Middle Eastern (LJ 220) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Asian (LJ 150) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p ** |
Business Reference Services (LA 508) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Children's Literature Center (LJ 129) § | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | Closed |
Computer Catalog Centers (LJ 139 / LA 500) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Copyright Office (LM 402) | 8:30a-5:00p* | 8:30a-5:00p* | 8:30a-5:00p* | 8:30a-5:00p* | 8:30a-5:00p* | Closed |
European (LJ249) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Folklife (LJ G53) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Geography & Map (LM B01) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Hispanic (LJ 240) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Law Library (LM 201) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Local History & Genealogy (LJ G42) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Main (LJ 100) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Manuscript (LM 101) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Microform (LJ 139B) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Motion Picture & Television (LM 336) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
-- Motion Picture Viewing Facilities § | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | 8:30a-4:30p | Closed |
Newspaper & Current Periodical (LM 133) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Performing Arts (LM 113) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
Duplication Services (LA 128) | 9:00a-3:00p | 9:00a-3:00p | 9:00a-3:00p | 9:00a-3:00p | 9:00a-3:00p | Closed |
Prints & Photographs (LM 337) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Rare Book & Special Collections (LJ 239) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
Recorded Sound Reference (LM 113) | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | Closed |
-- Recorded Sound Listening Facilities § | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p | § |
Science & Technology (LA 508) | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-9:30p | 8:30a-5:00p | 8:30a-5:00p |
* Some services end at 4:30pm
** Please Note: On October 1, 2012 the Asian Reading Room will be closed on Saturdays
Requesting Closed-Stack Materials
For delivery of materials from closed stack collections, requests typically must be made at least one hour, and sometimes two hours, before the reading rooms close. Details are available in the reading rooms and on their home pages.
Reference Collections
Each reading room also has a reference collection that is openly available during reading room hours.